The Regalia was parked by the road next to the faded dirt path that led to Fociaugh. Dark clouds hung overhead and rain beat down on the five as soon as they exited the car.

"What a nice day, huh?" Gladio sarcastically stated.

Lorelai looked up at the sky, seeing nothing but rain clouds above them. "Looks like we came during a rainstorm."

"Let's hurry up and go," Noctis said, leading the others. "I don't wanna stand out in this weather all day."

Following the small path, they came to the entrance of Fociaugh Hollow. The giant slab of stone that had once covered it was now split down the middle, most likely a result of a lightning strike. The group slowly stepped inside. They flipped on their lights and Lorelai created a light orb upon entering the dark cave.

"Uh, are we sure about this?" Prompto asked, slight fear taking over him. "I think I'd rather take my chances in the rain."

Lorelai stood beside him, smiling and patting his shoulder. "Relax, Prompto. We can handle this."

The five friends moved forward. The cavern was straightforward and housed some small daemons, but it was nothing they couldn't take care of. They didn't meet anything particularly strong along the way. But when they came to a small opening that branched away from their path, they heard a low hiss echo through the cavern. Prompto carefully approached the opening.

"What was that?" he fearfully asked.

"Let's keep moving," Ignis instructed. "It's most likely our target."

The others passed by him with Lorelai taking his hand and tugging him away. But right as Prompto's back was turned, a scaly appendage reached through the opening and wrapped around his torso. Before he could react, it yanked him back, his hand slipping out of Lorelai's as he was pulled right through the opening with a frightful scream.

"Prompto!" everyone yelled, snapping their heads around only to see his figure disappear into the darkness.

Lorelai immediately darted after him, leaving the others shouting in protest as she leapt right through the hole. She skidded down a slope and landed in a large cavern covered in stalactites and stalagmites. She heard a small scream and looked around. She caught sight of Prompto being drug away by a large creature retreating into the darkness. She ran after it until it finally stopped in another large cavern.

She could now get a better look at it. It looked like a giant snake with the head of a woman. Lorelai recognized it as a naga. The daemon looked down at the blond wrapped in its coils. It let out a hiss and tossed him aside. He rolled across the rocky floor and Lorelai immediately rushed over, kneeling beside him and helping him up. Their eyes became fixated on the naga in front of them. Strangely enough, it just stared at them.

"...My baby..." it said in a deep, distorted voice. "...Where..."

Lorelai's eyes grew wide in shock. They had found the talking daemon. It stayed there, watching and awaiting a response. Lorelai had no idea what to say. She had never been confronted by a daemon in a way like that. She was somewhat horrified by it. Prompto glanced at her from where he sat, wondering what to do.

Lorelai finally replied, "I-I'm sorry, I don't know where."

"...Then you..." the monster hissed angrily. "...Will become mine!"

The naga spit a glob of venom at them. Lorelai rolled out of the way, but unfortunately Prompto wasn't as quick. The gunman was engulfed in venom, and in a puff of green smoke, his body was transformed into a frog. He let out a panicked croak and began furiously hopping away from the serpent.

"Prompto!" Lorelai shouted, staring at his tiny form with shock.

The naga's angry hiss caught her attention. She only knew one thing for sure at that moment - she needed to get Prompto out of there. She summoned her scythe as the daemon slithered after the amphibian. She jumped in front of Prompto, swinging her blade and chopping off one of the serpent's horns. She then twisted around, scooped up the frog, and made a run for the exit. She cradled Prompto against her chest and glanced down at him.

"Don't worry, Prompto. I won't let you get hurt."

Prompto croaked in reply and huddled against her. She ran as fast as she could, looking back to see the naga slithering after her. Leaving the large cavern, she saw three lights in the tunnel ahead of her. She continued running, getting closer to where her friends were.

As soon as they were in range, she yelled, "Guys! Run!"

The three immediately noticed the daemon on her tail and turned, sprinting in the opposite direction. They slowed their pace just enough for the girl to catch up to them.

"Where's Prompto?!" Noctis asked her.

"He's right here!" The others caught sight of the small green creature clinging to her. "That thing turned him into a frog! We need to get out of here until he's back to normal!"

The other three nodded. "Capital idea!" Ignis agreed.

Nearing the entrance, Lorelai was tiring out and she could still hear the naga chasing them. "That's it!" she yelled, pausing and turning toward it. "I've had about enough of you!"

The others stopped and watched her. Lorelai turned her light orb into a barrier between the daemon and herself. It's light was blinding and the serpent let out a terrified screech and reeled back. Lorelai whirled around and darted to the entrance with her friends by her side. Her light wall dimmed and faded the farther she got. They finally exited Fociaugh Hollow. Lorelai turned her head to look back, making sure the naga wasn't still following them.

Not watching ahead of her, Lorelai's foot caught on a rock. She stumbled forward, holding Prompto out so she wouldn't hurt him. She fell onto her stomach on the wet grass, the amphibian flying out of her hands and into a bush. She quickly sat up and wiped the bits of grass off her stomach before going over to the bush Prompto was flung into. She rummaged through the branches until she saw the familiar, green frog. She reached down and picked him up. The creature kicked its legs in surprise.

"Woah, it's okay, Prompto," she said soothingly, hugging him to her chest. "It's just me. I didn't mean to scare you."

The frog croaked and ceased his struggles. The rain made his skin a bit slick and slimy, but Lorelai didn't care. Knowing it was Prompto, it didn't bother her. She turned one last time to look at the cave entrance.

"Seems the naga's not leaving the cave right now," Gladio said. "Guess it knows it's still daylight out."

"Though it's hard to tell in this weather," Ignis added, shielding his glasses from the rain.

Noctis looked down at the amphibian in the girl's arms. "So, Prompto's a frog. That's... kinda funny when you think about it."

Lorelai frowned. "It is not. What if he's stuck this way?"

"The effect should only be temporary," Ignis told her. "It's only a matter of time until he's back to normal."

Lorelai sighed with relief. "Thank the Stars."

"I say we get outta here before that daemon decides to come out," Noctis said, heading for the car.

Everyone agreed and followed him. Lorelai took Prompto's usual seat up front with Ignis. She gazed down at Prompto, running her fingers lightly over his back. Ignis urged her to explain what had happened when they got split up.

"That naga..." she began, "it could speak. She was searching for her baby. I think that's why she took Prompto, because she mistook him for her child. Then she asked me where her baby was. When I told her I didn't know, she attacked, and that's how Prompto got turned into a frog. But the whole idea is very... unsettling."

"How so?" the prince questioned.

Lorelai stared down at the frog. "Because that daemon was once human. You can tell by her ability to speak and understand human language. The fact that she's forever trapped in that state and searching for her child, who may not even be alive, is quite... unnerving."

"Yes, I agree," Ignis said. "Such a sad state to be in. That's why it's better if we end her suffering."

"We need to kill that daemon," Gladio stated.

Lorelai sadly nodded. "Yeah. I think she's too far gone for me to heal. There's hardly a trace of her humanity left, just a shallow memory in a corrupted body."

Prompto suddenly let out several croaks and hopped out of the girl's arms. She struggled to grab him and keep a hold on him. "Prompto! Chill out! Was it something I said?!"

She finally managed to keep him still, firmly holding him against her chest. "What's gotten into him?" Gladio questioned, leaning forward in his seat.

"I don't know," Lorelai answered. "Maybe he's just upset about being a frog. I know I would be if I was like that."

"We can rest at Coernix Station," Ignis said. "Then tomorrow we'll give it another go."

"And hopefully Prompto will be back to normal by then," the girl stated, gazing down at the frog.

Up ahead of them was the outpost. They were all eager to take a break and for Prompto to return to normal. Tomorrow, they'd start fresh and hunt down the naga again, knowing for certain they'd finish the job.